Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre is a series of fishing villages clustered on Italy’s west coast. These five towns daringly climb up cliffs, overlooking gentle waters from their rocky perches. A twisting trail or romantic rail ride crosses farmland and terraced hills to connect the communities. Whichever way you wind up on, stop for fresh fish before marvelling at the dreamy views of stacked, sea-facing houses.

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Visit Cinque Terre: Get started

The best way to get to Cinque Terre, Italy is by booking an excursion from Florence. Choose from our Italy packages that include tours of Tuscany and day trips to Cinque Terre. Hike between the Cinque Terre villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore—or take a train! Plan a boat trip to Vernazza, or uncover the best beaches near Cinque Terre.

CINQUE TERRE TRAVEL GUIDE

DESTINATION FACTS

Language

Italian

What to eat

Ligurian specialties: freshly-baked focaccia bread, farinata (chickpea pancakes), pesto pasta, anchovy-based dishes, fresh seafood and a fruit cake called pandolce.

What to bring back

Paintings or porcelain replicas of the coast’s iconic houses, colourful stoneware anchovies (one of the region’s popular delicacies!), regional olive oil and wine and countless Instagram-worthy photos of the gorgeous coast.

Fun fact

Before the beginning of the 20th century, the villages of Cinque Terre were isolated and mainly reached by sea, until the construction of La Spezia railway in 1874. With the towns now more accessible, trails began to pop up between each one, including the footpath linking Riomaggiore with Manarola. It quickly won the moniker of “Path of Love” (Via dell’Amore), because it became a meeting point for lovers from different villages. The path is currently closed, but is set to reopen in July 2024.